Stewardship News

June 23 was Church Vitality & Stewardship  Day  in the Diocese of Virginia.   On that day, the Diocese conducted a set of stewardship workshops designed  to help Virginia congregations use “the gifts God gives us to do the work God calls us to do.”   Held at historic  Aquia Church near Fredricksburg, the meeting was  presided over by Bishop Shannon Johnston, and Bishops Susan Goff and Bob Ihloff and largely orchestrated by Julie Simonton, Director of Congregational Development and Stewardship for the Diocese.  It was both an inspiring and useful exploration of the modern Church’s role in society and the ways in which it can be more effective in serving the needs of parishioners while it is also securing its own financial and operational future.  The information shared at Aquia about annual and proportional giving, bequests and related financial instruments, endowments, and the communications and other opportunities that technology affords us will benefit Trinity Church  and  help us leverage the skills of  our own talented parishioners and  the experiences of other churches to enable Trinity to attain new and higher goals and commitments.    

Meanwhile, Trinity’s Stewardship Committee has been active in reassessing what can be done to strengthen connections among the congregation and investigating how to strengthen Trinity’s  budget and provide the support that enables Trinity to  care for and serve its members and the larger community.    In that spirit, the Committee and the Vestry met in Cox Hall with Julie Simonton on June 11. It was clearly an eye-opening conversation that ranged over a number of important aspects of stewardship and how Trinity’s message can be made more apparent and relevant to parishioners of all ages and to people in the region.  The Cox Hall meeting generated  new spirit and enthusiasm and a number of proposals for action that we will evaluate over the summer.  Julie has assured us it will not be her last trip to Trinity.  But, the job is now ours to undertake.  We would absolutely WELCOME additional ideas from our Genesis readers – consider this YOUR invitation.    

These two meetings have set the stage for future  decisions about how to freshen up our annual giving requests, make planned giving easier, and  improve the Church’s long-term financial outlook in order to enhance outreach, music,  congregational care, and to do God’s work as He gives us to see it.  The Diocese’s annual motto – NOW into the World! – captures that spirit.  As Bishop Goff told us in the context of “changing the verb” in pursuit  of our mission in this time of change and uncertainty:  focus on what there is to  “gain” by change and innovation, not on what is  “lost”; instead of asking people to “come” to church,  be willing to “go” where the need is;  instead of saying I “have” a church, “be” the church;  instead of trying to “survive” be willing to let old ways “die” when the need to modernize our Church requires it -- while maintaining our commitment to Christ and each other, of course.  That’s both a challenging and an optimistic message.  It’s about everyone at Trinity being its steward.            

Jim Hoecker
Stewardship Chair 2018

Outreach News

The Trinity Outreach Committee would like to thank Kat Gemmer and her amazing team of volunteers for creating an outstanding and highly successful 2018 Stable Tour!  Because of their hard work and the generosity of those attending, the Outreach Committee will be dispersing $50,000 this year!  The committee will meet in September to review funding requests submitted in 2018 and will decide how best to utilize the funds.  (The list of non-profits and suggested funding amounts will be submitted to the Vestry for final approval.)  

The Outreach Committee carefully reviews every submitted proposal; interviews (when possible) the executive directors and leaders of the non-profits; and, in many cases, volunteers directly with the organizations.  These organizations not only benefit from needed funding – they also benefit from the love, compassion, skills and expertise of many Trinity volunteers.    

Should you know of an organization in need of funding that you feel would benefit from Trinity’s Outreach program and would like to serve as the organization’s sponsor, please contact Debra Principi at 703-919-0182 or email debraprincipi@aol.com.  Or, you may suggest the organization complete the PDF application here:  https://trinityupperville.org/outreach/. 

Music Notes - Credo

Credo.  In Latin it means, believe, and is commonly used to mean a statement of belief.  The Credo is also the central (third of five) movement of the Latin Mass and in that form is what we know as the Nicene Creed.  We say the creed, in English, every Sunday and while it is a very powerful part of the Eucharist Service, it can’t compare to singing it in Latin.    

First there is the language.  Here is an excerpt in both English and Latin so you can decide for yourself.  

God from God  
Light from Light  
True God from true God  

Deum de Deo
Lumen de Lumine
Deum verum de Deo vero

Now really, which is the more inspiring, or even just fun to say.  Add to this the emotion that music can bring to words and you have the perfect anthem for the day of the Bishop’s visit and Confirmation.  

For this occasion, on Sunday, June 17, we sang the version of the Credo from the Mass in G by Franz Schubert which he composed in less than a week during 1815 when he was just 18 years old.  The musical scholar can find examples of inexperience in this work but they are far outweighed by Schubert’s youthful romanticism which is both beautiful and expressive but also innocent and light.  It is earnest in a way that later, dark and heavy romanticism could only reminisce about.  The defining characteristic of Schubert’s Credo is the juxtaposition of smooth drawn out vocal lines over a staccato walking bass line which never stops through the entire piece.  Together it creates the sense of a relentless pilgrimage, a journey towards an unwavering faith. It is a journey that our confirmands are just beginning and which we hope will be relentless and unwavering.  And for the times when it is not?  That is why we all recite the creed together, each and every Sunday, at the sacred hour, on the sacred day, in this sacred space.      

Christian

Outdoor Sanctuary Picnic

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The next potluck picnic at the Outdoor Sanctuary is scheduled for Thursday, June 14 at 6 PM.  Hotdogs, burgers, and veggie burgers will be provided.  Also provided will be wine, beer, soft drinks and bottled water.  (If you are particular about pairing your wine with our burgers, you are welcome to bring your own wine).  

Members of the congregation are encouraged to bring a side dish to compliment the picnic.  Suggestions include salad, baked beans, cole slaw, hors d’oeuvres, vegetables  and desserts.  June 14 also happens to be “Flag Day” so feel free to be creative.  

The picnic will be followed by a service of Evening Prayer celebrated at the Outdoor Chapel. Please invite your friends!  These picnics can serve as a welcoming outreach to our neighbors in the community.  

If you are able to walk to the Outdoor Sanctuary, please park in the Trinity parking lot.If it is more convenient for you to drive, you may enter via Lafayette Street located between the Thrift Shop and the Post Office.  Someone will be available to direct you.  

Watch for announcements about subsequent picnics at the Outdoor Sanctuary as the summer progresses !

New Pews for the Outdoor Chapel

If a tree fell in the forest, could it become a new pew for the Outdoor Sanctuary?  

The answer is YES!  An Osage Orange tree fell in the back yard of Gulick House (the old Rectory) during one of Upperville’s countless wind storms.  

Thanks to Fred Briggs, owner of Belle Grey Farm and recent Stable Tour host, this fallen tree is on its way to providing new pews for the Outdoor Chapel.   Fred brought his enormous portable sawmill to the back yard of the Rectory, and shaped the fallen tree into rough boards suitable for benches.  Over the winter, Eric Westergard fashioned the boards into smooth pews.  Then, following even more storms, new pew bench supports were uniformly cut by Fred Briggs to hold the new pews in place. This process continues throughout the summer.  

Thank you, Fred Briggs!  You are a true friend of the Trinity Outdoor Chapel! 

S.O.M.E. in May

A steady rainfall did not deter our guests from gathering for their fish at our SOME outreach service in May. About 400 were served and for one of the first times in recent memory, we actually ran out of rice casserole. It was a popular item, along with all of our homemade goodies. Fortunately, we had an abundance of fish.  

The van was full and included among the dining room volunteers: Ken Knapp, our oven master; Jim Gemmer, the jack of all trades, John MacDonnell, the casserole prep man; Bob Appenzeller; the green bean chief and primary seasoner; newcomer Paul Edmundson who assisted on the serving line as well as in the kitchen. Also on the line and directing the baked goods department were: Gina Hammond, Mary MacDonnell, Ann MacLeod, Maggie New and another first-timer, Wendy Glorioso. Robin Keys served as the driver to and from D.C.  

We had an early crowd of prep workers in the Cox Hall kitchen the previous day to include our Rector Rob Banse, Harriet Condon, Joan Eliot, Ellen Hall, Richard Taylor, Ann MacLeod and Robin Keys.  

Our July SOME mission will be held Thursday, July 19, when we cook, and Friday, July 20, when we serve. Our summer efforts present a great opportunity for youth involvement. Participants must be at least 16-years old and are reminded to wear closed toe shoes and a hat. Please contact Ann MacLeod for further information. 

Mammography Van Visit Update

Saturday May 19 was a rainy day, but the weather did not dampen the success of the visit of the Novant/UVA mammography van to Trinity Church.  

The purpose of the van’s visit was to provide early breast cancer screening to ladies over 40 regardless of their ability to pay. The Cherry Blossom Breast Cancer Foundation, based in Middleburg, helped to make the van visit possible.  Trinity Church’s Outreach mission efforts have long supported the Cherry Blossom Foundation’s objectives which include early detection and education about breast cancer.

Pictured above: Cherry Blossom Board members Carol Miller, Liz Washington, Cindy Zeni, Barbara Augenblick 

The ladies from Novant/UVA who staffed the van screened patients every 20 minutes from 9 AM - 4 PM.  They worked through their lunch hour, and stayed after the 4 PM  closing time to serve as many women as possible.  

Many thanks to Betsy Crenshaw who ensured that the appointment scheduling went smoothly, and to the many members of Trinity Church who also serve on the Board of the Cherry Blossom Breast Cancer Foundation, and who gave of their time to welcome the ladies to the Mammography Van.

Education for Ministry Class

Join Our EfM (Education for Ministry) Class: Want to dig deeper into the Christian faith, study the Bible with greater intellectual integrity, learn more about church history, theological ideas and, most importantly, connect your faith (and doubts) more strongly to your own life experiences? Then consider enrolling in Education for the Ministry – or “EfM”. EfM is a unique four-year distance learning certificate program in theological education based upon small-group study and practice. EfM helps the faithful encounter the breadth and depth of the Christian tradition and bring it into conversation with their experiences of the world as they study, worship, and engage in theological reflection together.

The class convenes once a week on Tuesdays from September through May for 3 hours (11:00AM—2:00PM) at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Middleburg and does require weekly personal study. Created by Sewanee Seminary and administered locally via the Diocese of Virginia, the tuition is $375 per year and scholarships are available. You only need to commit to one year at a time. Feel free to contact Trinity EfM graduates Melissa Neal (540-255-8596), Joe Fluet (540-869-0858), Jolly de Give )54-592-3889) or Gina Hammond (540-665-5744) or current student Laurie Volk (540-539-1734) for more information and their personal experiences with the program. 

Music News

One of my great joys at Trinity Church is working with our Church Music Interns.  The program is designed to be one of mutual ministry, giving a music student the opportunity for practical, hands-on experience with our wonderful choirs while also sharing their unique gifts with the congregation and providing valuable assistance to me. Over the years we have been blessed with many wonderful and talented interns who have enriched our music and our lives in many ways as well as letting me feel like I have, in some small way, also offered them something of value.  Our current Intern, Sarah Saul, has most ably continued that tradition.  

All, of our interns have had different gifts, but Sarah has been more out of the ordinary than most.  Usually the interns are here for just one year, much of which is spent just learning the ropes.  Having served in this position for two years, Sarah is easily able to read my mind and usually know what needs to be done before I do.  While most of our interns come from a choral background, Sarah is a supremely gifted flutist with an orchestral background.  Not only have we had the pleasure of her artistry on the flute, we have also benefited from her instrumental perspective.  

Due to Sarah’s instrumental training and skill, I gave her an opportunity that no previous intern has had.  Last month, Sarah conducted the prelude for brass and organ on Easter Sunday.  It has been exactly ten years since the first and only time I have used this wonderful piece of music and in the second part of this article I include what I wrote about it at the time.      

Sarah will be conducting her final anthem on Pentecost Sunday and then winding up her time here in June leaving us all a few weeks to thank her for her service and wish her well as she pursues a graduate degree in flute.  In her time here, Sarah has touched the lives of many, both young and old, and been a dear friend and trusted colleague to me.  And so, I offer to Sarah, Farmer Hogget’s words of highest praise on a job well done.  “That’ll do pig, that’ll do”.    

From Genesis – April 2008:  

I must admit, I’m curious as to how many people recognized it…    

A month or so ago I was reviewing pieces for brass quintet and organ to use for the Prelude on Easter Sunday when I found an arrangement of the Maestoso from the Organ Symphony by French Romantic composer Camille Saint-Saëns.   It was everything I was looking for.  It was the right length, used the instruments I had available, made a grand musical statement to set the tone for the service and expressed the triumph of Easter.  There was only one problem.  This very piece of music was used as the main theme for the children’s movie “Babe” and I wanted this first piece of music heard on Easter Day to create images of victory over death and not visions of a talking pig.  I went back and forth on it for a few days soliciting opinions from a trusted few.  I shared my dilemma with the rest of the church staff who assured me that very few people would make the connection.  I felt more confident.  Just before a children’s choir rehearsal I asked our music intern, Drew, about it and he agreed that no one would recognize it.  I felt more confident still.  Not ten minutes later, as the children were coming into the choir room, I was diddling on the piano a few bars of the main theme.  Completely unsolicited, they immediately asked, isn’t that the song Farmer Hogget sings in “Babe”?  So much for confidence.  

And so it was that I began the greatest celebration of the Christian year wondering if my choice of prelude music was a mistake.  At 10:25 I gave the downbeat, a grand fortissimo C major chord in the organ followed by an introductory fanfare in the brass.  Then came the moment of truth; Farmer Hogget’s theme.  It is introduced by just the organ so softly that I felt sure I could hear a murmur in the congregation.  As the piece went on to its triumphant conclusion and into the opening hymn, I hoped that it had conveyed the desired effect and that I had not turned Easter into a secular farce.  

Through the next bit of the service, I continued to privately fret about what the reaction to this music would be:  And then came the sermon.  The first words out of our beloved Rector’s mouth were “What’s the deal with the Easter Bunny”.  My concern vanished instantly.  First of all I now knew that anyone who had a problem with music used in a children’s movie would probably have a much bigger issue with a sermon about the Easter Bunny and forget all about my prelude; (Thanks, Rob).  More importantly, I realized that this sermon was drawing everyone into the story of new life.  A church brimful of people of all ages and backgrounds, some regulars and others who had not been here since Christmas, all found something familiar and accessible about this sermon introduction and then listened carefully to its real message of Jesus’ Resurrection.  I can only hope that the same is true for a piece of music that has been played in the greatest of concert halls and churches for more than a century as well as accompanying a little pig who also triumphed over death.  

Mammography Van to Visit Trinity Church

On Saturday, May 19, from 9 AM – 4 PM, the Novant Health / UVA mammography van will be located in the parking lot across from Trinity.   This visit is the coordinated effort of the Cherry Blossom Breast Cancer Foundation and Trinity’s Outreach mission. The purpose of the visit is to offer early detection of breast cancer by providing 2-D mammography screening.    

Ladies over age 40 may come for a mammogram whether they have insurance or not. Historically, the van’s primary mission has been to reach the uninsured, underserved community.  More recently, to maximize the utilization of the van’s visit, the mission has been expanded to also include ladies with insurance.  

1. If you have insurance, including Medicare:
. You must have a doctor, and be able to provide doctor’s name and location of practice.   . Your doctor must have seen you within the last 24 months.
. You must not be breast feeding.
. You must not have any history of breast cancer.
. You must not have had a mammogram within the past 12 months.
. You must provide your insurance information when you register, and bring your insurance card to the appointment.

2. If you do not have insurance, you may qualify for a grant:
. In addition to the eligibility requirements listed above, you will be asked to provide the following information: Name Race Ethnicity Family size Estimated annual gross income (This information will not be verified. It is required by the organization funding the grants. The goal is to provide as much grant funding as possible to those in need of assistance.)    

The sign-up / registration process has two steps:

1. Sign Up – call Betsy Crenshaw in the church office (592-3343) to reserve an appointment time. Please also provide your best telephone contact information.  
2. Registration – after Betsy has given you an appointment time, please call Novant (703) 369-8073 to provide registration information. This will ensure that your visit to the Mammography Van is quick and efficient.    

A Spanish-speaking interpreter will be on site during the van’s visit.  Please help spread the word to ladies you know and love about this important opportunity.  If even one life can be saved through early detection, the van’s visit will be well worth the effort.

Vestry Notes May 2018

We are experiencing a great spring of worship and service at Trinity.  I hope that you are enjoying the weather, change of season, and opportunity to get outside and experience God’s creation.    

You may remember that in November of 2017, I reported that Vestry had decided to transition the endowment to the financial management of the Trustees of the Funds (TOTF).  This decision was made after a great deal of consideration and tremendous due diligence by the Endowment Committee, the Finance Committee and Vestry; however, almost immediately after the decision had been made questions emerged about certain aspects of the relationship between the TOTF and its participants.  Until those questions are resolved it makes more sense for the Endowment Committee to continue to manage the Endowment.  We are fortunate that we have a cadre of financial and legal experts who are willing to do this.  

Thanks to their efforts the Endowment continues to do well.  Your gifts and bequests to the Endowment make a tremendous difference both now and for the future.  It remains important that we continue to increase the size of our endowment for the long term maintenance of our campus and the fulfillment of our mission.  

On another note, Kat Gemmer and her committee are organizing a wonderful Hunt Country Stable Tour.  If you have not donated or volunteered yet, and you are in the area for Memorial Day weekend, I urge you to pitch in and assist.  

In faith,    
Matt Blunt

May is S.O.M.E. Month!

Join us on May 17 at 7:30AM to cook. 

Join us on May 18 at 8:30AM to deliver and serve the meal at So Others May Eat in Washington. 

Community Music School of the Piedmont

CMSP is delighted to announce that Jennifer Riddle has joined our faculty as a trumpet instructor. Jennifer received her Masters in Music, Trumpet Performance, in December 2017 from Shenandoah Conservatory. A graduate of Guilford College, she has performed with the National Concert Band of America where she is first trumpet, and has also played with the Shenandoah Conservatory Wind Ensemble, and the Mid-Atlantic Wind Symphony. She is a founding member of the Luminous Brass Quintet.  

If you are interested in trumpet studies please give us a call! 540-592-3040

Martha Cotter
Executive Director, The Community Music School of the Piedmont

Trinity Choristers Camp

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Dear Friends,

I am very sorry to inform you that we have had to cancel our Chorister Camp for this summer.  We have tried very hard to make it happen but, due to several unforeseen circumstances, we simply did not have enough participants registered to make the camp viable.

For those who have registered electronically, we will refund your fee through paypal.  For those who registered by mail, we will mail you a refund.

We greatly appreciate your interest in our camp and hope you might consider being a part of our Choristers or other music programs in the Fall.  For more information on Trinity’s music offerings please contact me at christian@trinityupperville.org.

Thank you so very much,
Christian

Christian Myers
Director of Music Ministries
Trinity Church, Upperville, VA
540-592-3343

S.O.M.E. News May 2018

Our March SOME servers, pictured from left to right: Josephina Hooker, Gina Hammond, Len Shapiro, Ann MacLeod, Mary MacDonnel, Jim Gemmer, John Macdonnel and Ken Knapp.

It was a full dining room two times over as Trinity Church fed a bevy of hungry diners at SOME in Washington, DC, in March. Short on staff and the usual bounty of local college-age volunteers, we hustled to keep the paper plates flowing. Without a volunteer to man the automatic dishwasher, the standard hard plastic serving ware was removed. Only one side of the serving station was manned. Jim Gemmer however stepped up to handle the heavy duty washing of pots and pans in the kitchen.  

Most of the remaining kitchen duties including but not limited to fish, green bean and rice casserole preparation, were handled ably by Ken Knapp and John MacDonnell joined by Len Shapiro, with a small assist from Robin Keys. Portioning the vast array of desserts and bread were newcomer Josefina Hooker, whom we welcomed with open arms, Mary MacDonnell, Gina Hammond and Ann MacLeod. Gina baked a generous portion of green cookies honoring Saint Patrick, the “Apostle of Ireland.” Josefina donated a large number of Girl Scout cookies and Mary made some mouth watering Irish soda bread for the occasion. Service was halted briefly when one of the guests had a medical emergency outside the entrance. An ambulance was quickly dispatched and soon we were back in business. It was believed that the guest possibly overdosed on “Spice” or K2 synthetic marijuana. A member of the SOME security team reported that the use of this drug in the metropolitan area has skyrocketed and that unfortunately medical intervention is often required.  

We were mindful during our service of the significant impact former Outreach leader the late Debbie Gale had on our program. She was right there in the kitchen with us for many, many years as well as on the van to DC. We will forever miss her warm spirit and welcoming nature. Debbie embodied what the SOME program is all about serving everyone with dignity and respect. We will return to DC to serve on May 18, with cooking scheduled the previous day May 17 in Cox Hall. Please consider joining us. A sign-up sheet is available in Cox Hall or you are encouraged to contact Ann MacLeod to confirm your participation.  

Upcoming Youth Activities

We will have youth evenings at the church the second Wednesday of every month (grades 3-12), starting April 11 with a Pizza night from 5:30-7 PM, followed by activities. Please invite your friends; you don't have to belong to Trinity to participate! We will also discuss the schedule of coming events, including:

Youth Sunday Canoe Trip
Stable Tour Volunteer Project Pool Party
Movie Night
Annual Youth Project Outreach activity

Please RSVP for April 11
Kevin Fox
kfox@myviablevision.com.

We have a remarkable group of energetic, talented and creative youth at Trinity, and we are excited to provide opportunities for them to shine, to build new friendships and to contribute to the life of the church. We need your ideas and energy at Trinity, so please come and bring your friends, for fun and fellowship.

Stewardship Updates

April is the month of renewal and hope. We begin it by pausing to honor the sacrifice and resurrection of our

Lord. As part of that Celebration, your Stewardship Committee wishes to report that 2018 pledges now total

$588,367.00. This meets our most ambitious expectations and we thank the 156 pledging parishioners for their historic commitment. The best news is that we have yet to hear from some of our 2017 pledgers. If they could simply renew at last year’s level, we would conclude this pledge season with over $620,000, which would advance our goal of strengthening Trinity Church’s financial position and set the stage for meeting the major financial obligations facing the congregation down the road.

In my last letter sent directly to many of our Genesis readers from whom we have not heard this year, we asked that you please complete a short survey so that, pledging aside, the Church and Father Banse can better understand whether you think the Church is doing all it can to help and serve you and the Lord. We ask again, please respond so that Trinity can remain your “home” during this year of change and uncertainty.

Many blessings of the Easter season,
Jim Hoecker
2018 Stewardship Chair

See Jesus Workshop

Vestry Updates

As always, Easter was a great day of celebration and worship at Trinity. In fact, the entire Holy Week was a moving period of reflection and meditation on Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Now we turn to the task of living as re- deemed people who serve God, one another and men and women in this community and beyond.

With that in mind, I would urge you to consider supporting one of Trinity’s most important events of the year. The Hunt Country Stable Tour is the pri- mary source of our outreach funding. It is what allows us to serve the people of Upperville, the surrounding area and men and women in crisis all around the world. The Tour can also attract those who are looking for a place to worship and have fellowship with other believers to Trinity. Stable Tour Chair Kat Gemmer and her committee have put together a wonderful itiner- ary. I would urge you to support the Stable Tour and the outreach work of Trinity.

Regards,
Matt Blunt

Stable Tour Update

The Stable Tour is well on its way to a successful 2018! The Farms and Events are set. Please check out our website for details about the fun filled Memorial Day Weekend and mark your calendars for May 26 and 27.

Our next task is to fill all of the farms with volunteers to oversee the grounds and activities. All head stewards have been selected and Jim Gemmer and Dorothy Gow will soon be contacting congregational members about farm slots. We are also taking advertisers for our booklet, so if you know of any businesses that might be interested contact Marylin Bigelow (marylinbigelow@gmail.com) or Kat Gemmer (gemmerkathryn@gmail.com). The church office is also able to answer any questions.

Donations continue to come in, but we still need your gifts. Please consider giving to this cause that uses all of the net proceeds to fund Outreach here at Trinity. I appreciate all of the support that each of you gives to the tour; it is such a blessing to be able to work for such an amazing tradition!

In Christ,
Kat